Woman dies in head-on collision on LA 16

AMITE, LA (WAFB) - Authorities said a 25-year-old woman died Wednesday evening after the car she was driving drifted into the lane of oncoming traffic and collided head-on with an SUV.

It happened on LA 16 about a mile from I-55 in Amite around 7:30 p.m.

The Louisiana State Police identified the woman as Carly Cutrer of Ponchatoula.

Sean Zimmerman, 38, of Roxie, MS suffered minor injuries. He was driving the SUV. Anita Zimmerman, 63, and Steve Zimmerman, 66, were taken to North Oaks Medical Center with minor injuries. The report did not indicate whether Sean Zimmerman went to the hospital.

Troopers said their investigation showed Cutrer was headed west on LA 16 in a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am when she crossed the center line. Her car slammed into a 2011 Buick Enclave. She was pronounced dead at the scene by the Tangipahoa Parish Coroner's Office.

Troopers added she was not wearing a seatbelt. All of the people in the SUV were properly buckled.

Per standard procedure in deadly car crashes, samples of blood from both drivers were submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for toxicology analysis. Investigators said they don't suspect impairment was a factor in the crash.

They stated it is unknown why the car went into the other lane of traffic.

The investigation is ongoing.

Troopers added a reminder to always buckle up when in a moving vehicle because it could increase the chances of surviving a crash and it is the law.